eSports
Guanyu Zhou Wins First Ever Virtual Bahrain Grand Prix
Team Renault driver Guanyu Zhou clinched victory in the first ever virtual Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday night (March 22nd). The 20-year-old from China, who currently competes in the FIA Formula 2 Championship as well as serving as a test driver for Renault in Formula 1, finished ahead of Mercedes Formula E driver Stoffel Vandoorne in second and professional racing driver Philipp Eng in third.
Commenting on his historic victory, Zhou said “Qualifying went well and gave me a good starting position for the race and I’m really happy to get the win. It’s an amazing feeling, I enjoy playing the F1 video game a lot when I’m not racing as it gets you as close to reality as possible. It wasn’t easy but I’m happy with how everything went.”
Elsewhere on the grid, current F1 drivers Lando Norris and Nicholas Latifi finished fifth and sixth respectively, whilst Zhou’s Renault teammate Ian Poulter grabbed 14th, ahead of Sir Chris Hoy in 15th and Liam Payne in 16th.
A peak audience of 395K concurrent viewers tuned in to watch the virtual Bahrain Grand Prix across YouTube, Twitch and Facebook according to Esports Charts, with the race also broadcast live with international broadcast partners including in the UK on Sky Sports.
You can watch full highlights of the race on YouTube here.
The next Virtual Grand Prix will take place on April 5 around the Australian Grand Prix circuit in Melbourne.
Please find below a full breakdown of the top 10 positions for the virtual Bahrain GP below:
- Guanyu Zhou – Renault
- Stoffel Vandorne – Mercedes
- Philipp Eng – Red Bull
- Jimmy Broadbent – Racing Point
- Lando Norris – McLaren
- Nicholas Latifi – Williams
- Luca Salvadori – AlphaTauri
- Redeye – Haas
- Dino Beganovic – FDA Hublot Esports Team
- Esteban Gutierrez – Mercedes
Asia
S8UL Announces Campa Energy as Title Sponsor for its Esports World Cup 2026 Campaign
S8UL, a global name in esports and gaming content, has announced Campa Energy, the flagship energy drink brand of Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL), as the Title Sponsor for its Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 campaign. The move marks a major milestone for Indian esports, bringing together the country’s leading esports organisation and a rapidly growing youth-focused consumer brand ahead of the world’s biggest esports tournament.
Having been selected for the Esports Foundation’s Club Partner Programme for the second consecutive year, S8UL launched its most ambitious Esports World Cup campaign yet across 13 titles, already securing qualification spots in Fortnite, Honor of Kings & Chess while remaining in contention across multiple other titles. The organisation has also placed a strong emphasis on showcasing Indian talent internationally, with homegrown players competing across several esports titles alongside proven international talent. The onboarding of Campa Energy further strengthens this India-first vision, bringing together two homegrown brands to back Indian esports on the world stage.
As Title Sponsor, Campa Energy will be integrated across S8UL’s official team jerseys, digital content, fan engagement initiatives, city events and on-ground activations throughout the EWC 2026 campaign. The association reflects a shared vision to champion Indian gaming talent on the global stage while deepening engagement with the country’s rapidly growing esports community.
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO, S8UL Esports, said: “The conversation around Indian esports has changed significantly over the last few years. Today, it is no longer just about potential, it is about building globally competitive teams, creating sustainable fan ecosystems, and earning the confidence of major brands. Our partnership with Campa Energy represents that larger shift. As S8UL prepares for the Esports World Cup 2026 across multiple titles, having a homegrown brand support this journey reinforces the growing cultural relevance of esports in India. We see this as a shared effort to push Indian talent and Indian esports further onto the global stage.”
Campa Energy has been crafted for a generation that constantly challenges boundaries and aspires to achieve more with every step. Campa Energy will power S8UL’s athletes across multiple titles as they prepare to represent India on the global stage. The brand also has a growing presence within the esports ecosystem, having previously associated with JioBLAST All Stars vs India, a creator-led competitive entertainment format centered around Battlegrounds Mobile India, which featured popular S8UL creators including Payal Dhare, Raj Varma and Parv Singh.
As per the recent FICCI-EY Media and Entertainment Report 2026, the number of brands investing in Indian esports is expected to grow to 80 in 2026, with this association further highlighting the rising mainstream interest in the country’s rapidly evolving gaming and esports ecosystem.
The EWC 2026, set to take place in Paris, France from July 6 to August 23, 2026, will bring together over 2000 players from 200 clubs across more than 100 countries competing for a record-breaking prize pool of $75 million (~INR 720 crore). Backed by Campa Energy, S8UL will aim to make its mark while showcasing Indian esports talent at the highest level of international competition.
The post S8UL Announces Campa Energy as Title Sponsor for its Esports World Cup 2026 Campaign appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
data providers
DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026
DATA.BET says turnover from its virtual content grew 168% between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, with the supplier reporting the product accounted for 39% of total virtual sports turnover and 45% of profits over the period.
The company said the content is developed fully in-house and delivered through automated bot-vs-bot matches that run 24/7 without dependence on real-world fixture schedules. DATA.BET positioned the format as a way to provide continuous events and reduce operational overhead for operators.
Across the same period, DATA.BET reported +299% active users, +129% across clients GGR, +246% events per quarter, and +218% bets placed.
DATA.BET also said the audience profile overlaps with live football bettors, which it believes supports retention during seasonal breaks. The supplier added that the algorithm-driven format “carries no fraud exposure,” supports In-Stream Betting overlays, and provides near-zero latency between broadcast and market updates.
“Over the past year, our bot-vs-bot virtual content has delivered consistent, measurable results across every operator deployment. Building e-Football in-house gives us the flexibility to configure it to what each operator actually needs — whether that is a specific league structure, a particular mix of bot and player content, or a branded competition format,” mentioned Rostyslav Likhtin, Head of Product at DATA.BET.
The post DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
energy drinks
Team Vitality names FYZIO official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier
Multi-year deal adds Laboratoires Gilbert’s new brand to jerseys across CS2, VALORANT, Rocket League and LoL teams ahead of a September 2026 launch.
Team Vitality has signed a multi-year partnership with FYZIO, naming the brand its new official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier. FYZIO is a sports nutrition and hydration brand developed by Laboratoires Gilbert, a French healthcare company established in 1904.
The partnership will put FYZIO branding on the left sleeve of Team Vitality’s official jerseys for several flagship rosters, including CS2, VALORANT (VCT), Rocket League, and League of Legends teams across the LEC, LFL, and Rising Bees. FYZIO will also support Team Vitality teams competing in Teamfight Tactics, Tekken, and Trackmania.
FYZIO is scheduled to launch in September 2026. Team Vitality said the brand will supply products intended to support areas including hydration, fatigue and stress reduction, concentration and memory, and sleep quality.
“We are delighted to announce this partnership with FYZIO and proud to support the launch of this ambitious new brand from the French group, Laboratoires Gilbert. By integrating its specialised nutrition products into our teams’ routines, we are further strengthening our commitment to high-performance excellence,” comments Vas Roberts, Co-CEO of Team Vitality.
“For more than 120 years, Laboratoires Gilbert has been developing solutions dedicated to health and well-being. With FYZIO, we are bringing this expertise to a new ambition: helping everyone achieve their goals, whatever they may be, through a modern, accessible, and responsible approach to sports nutrition. Our partnership with Team Vitality reflects this shared vision of progress, high standards, and sustainable performance. Your performance, our nature“, explains Cédric Batteur, Chairman & CEO, Laboratoires Gilbert.
The post Team Vitality names FYZIO official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Brazil7 days agoTaDa Gaming to showcase its solutions at Peru Gaming Show 2026
-
BETANO7 days agoBetano unveiled as Tournament Supporter of FIFA World Cup 2026™ for Europe and South America
-
Andreas Larsson Casino Manager for Entain6 days agoSpinomenal content goes live in Estonia via Entain NCE brands
-
Balkans6 days agoEGT previews new Supreme cabinets for Belgrade Future Gaming 2026
-
Brasil7 days agoEvolución de las apuestas en Brasil: ingresos, cumplimiento e integridad
-
Central Europe6 days agoHabanero goes live on Favbet Romania
-
Amusnet6 days agoAmusnet to Participate in Belgrade Future Gaming 2026
-
Compliance6 days agoThe Mill Adventure wins GLI-19 certification ahead of Ontario market entry



